We are all beings both meticulously crafted and yet infinitely flawed. He has a temper; she trusts too easily. He can't grow a beard; she dislikes the hair on her legs. Perhaps this is the most prominent component of humanity--individuality. Without these discrepancies, life would be a gray affair devoid of the buoyant idiosyncracies we all so easily take for granted.

By now you are perhaps wondering why I am writing about flaws and other portions of life which may or may not discontent us. Well, the truth of the matter is that perfection is unattainable. The perfect human does not exist nor ever will.

You may recall a certain historical figure setting his sights on creating such a phenomena in repeatable form. Things didn't go so well for him. Or the world.

Instead of blasting others for these traits deemed unappealing or useless, should not these differences--whether behavioral, cultural or what-have-you--be instead celebrated?

Oh, great. Another everyone is unique and deserves x, y, and z because of it. No. Not quite what I'm attempting to accomplish here. But close. Kind of. Okay, not really at all.

We are all different. We look different, act differently, likely have different ideas as to what success and happiness look like. WIth a divergence as blatant as this, from one person to the next, how is it we still base our worth and accomplishments on some varying level of comparison regarding those around us--and those who we wish were near us.

This type of thinking leads only to retrograde. If your self-worth is determined by your bank account or area of residence, you may never truly find the happiness you believe yourself to be in want of. It is, in fact, a harsh reality to face, but it is as true as it is necessary.

Aim not to be the perfect individual, as this generalization is not tailored to your needs, nor to your background or abilities. Aim to be the perfect you.

Stop! Anecdote time!

I'm dancing in my hammer pants right now; you just can't see me.

Unfortunately, I am not perfect. On the other side, I recognize this not as an impossibility or a flaw from which my discontent should be derived, but instead allow it to ground me within its impeccable humility.

I do not have much patience. For example, I am likely to pass you if you are going 5 under the speed limit. Is that because I am in desperate need of reaching my destination? Probably not. I just dislike being inconvenienced. The truth of the matter is that this is such a trivial affair, my cutting a minute off my trip, if that, I am embarrassed to even admit that such events do occur.

Patience is but one of the many traits I lack. These past few months have allowed for much-needed reflection as well as a newfound devotion to bettering myself. I am not going to live my life exactly as my friends or relatives and that is okay. My path may lead me down several roads before I arrive on the correct one. This is also okay.

My goal now is to determine who it is I want to be and take every measure imaginable to achieve to become the Chase I know I should be. No cookie-cutter trajectory will suit me.

I urge you now not to forget your heroes and idols but cast them aside in your search for self. Do not let someone else's success dictate yours. Some mornings not hitting the snooze button is a success for me. We can't all be Superman.

Seek yourself. That's the best advice I can give this week. Get lost in the madness life provides but emerge from it having found yourself. You are your own person and you should make your own path.

Cut down some trees if you have to--figuratively for the sake of all things holy. Burn a few bridges and dismantle the problems in your life one by one. Find what makes you happy, what makes you tick, and what pushes you. Then cherish that. Never let it go.

Upwards and onwards, my friends. May whatever path you choose be paved and free of dog poop.